NSU Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees have legal, financial and governance responsibility of the Students' Union. They meet four times a year to ensure that the Union is operating under its charitable objectives. They employ a Students' Union Manager to oversee the Union in their absence. They are made up of:

- The President of the Union (Chair)- The Vice-President of the Union- 2 x Student Trustees (Elected in the Spring Elections)- 2 x External Trustees (One of which is the Deputy Chair)- A University Nominated Trustee

Trustee Profiles

Thomas Ashford (Sabbatical Trustee and Chair of the Board)

Tom Ashford was born and raised in Nottingham. He attended Newman University and graduated in Business Management in 2018.

Tom has been a very active student, playing football and being involved with NSU throughout his time at Newman. Tom was elected as Newman Students’ Union Vice-President for 2017/18 and was re-elected in as President of the Students’ Union for 2018/19.

Gary Hughes (External Trustee & Deputy Chair to the Board)

Gary is Chief Executive of Durham Students’ Union and Vice-Chair of the Newman SU Board and has an extensive career in senior management in students’ unions including Sunderland, Coventry, Liverpool John Moores University and Manchester Metropolitan University. He has also been an elected Officer at the National Union of Students and, later, an NUS staff member. His professional background is in higher education policy and organisational development of student leadership, policy and campaigning functions.

Gary was born and bred in Northfield and studied at the University of Birmingham where he was President of its Guild of Students. He loves the contribution of Newman students to their University, and their community, and supports the elected Officers in making sure that the University is the best it can be.​

Matthew Bedding (External Trustee)​Matt currently works in strategic HR for an international non-profit in London but previously has had a career within Students' Union as a Vice President and working within all things student engagement at four excellent Students' Unions. Matt's current background is within people and organisational strategy as well as internal communications and creating diverse and inclusive workplaces. ​Matt loves the set up at Newman believing it to be a fantastic organisation supported by passionate students.

Lewis Palin (University Nominated Trustee)

Lewis has been at Newman for years; some would say he's part of the furniture. He is currently Estates and Facilities manager at Newman University and responsibility for the daily running of the campus Estate and Services.

Lewis isn't new to the Students' Union having been a full-time sabbatical many moons ago.

​Lewis is a big advocate of Green Week and is also a Governor at a local school.

Bryannah Collins (Sabbatical Trustee)

Bryannah have been involved in Newman Students’ Union for the past four years and has seen it grow and develop greatly. She has been part of the Executive Committee as Societies Officer in 2016/17, and now again as Vice President in 2018/19 after taking a year out to complete her studies.

Bryannah wants the SU development to "focus upon volunteering initiatives" and offer "diversity within our events and include more campaigns".

Daniel Bevan (Student Trustee)

Dan has been involved with the Students' Union throughout his time at University, most recently being on the Executive Committee as Societies Officer. Dan has also been part of the NSU Pool Society and is an avid photographer.

Dan finished his degree at Newman University in Drama and English in May 2018, and is continuing his studies at Newman completing their PGCE.

Shannon Tague (Student Trustee)

Shannon also finished her Drama and English degree at Newman in May 2018, and was also part of the Executive Committee for 2017/18. Shannon worked with the President in her position as Academic Officer to make the Course Rep system what it is today.

Alongside Dan, Shannon will be completing her PGCE in 2018/19 at Newman.

Board of Trustees Minutes

As a transparent and democratic organisation, the minutes from all Board of Trustees minutes shall be uploaded below. Some commercially or legally sensitive information may be retracted in the interest of data protection.